The Experiment

Part 1

Inside an old factory, one single light shines down on a young girl of about twenty. That girl would be me, Millie, had my wavy red hair pulled up in a ponytail, I'm of average height, and stood still. Slowly opening my eyes looking around. Around my neck is a jewel, diamond shape glowing bright green color.

"Hello?" I ask looking up the stairs, leading up to darkness, nothing to be seen that way. Then looking down the stairs, but just a continuation of more stairs moving further and further down into the darkness.

No light but the single bulb above my head and the glowing green light coming from my neck. Holding the necklace, looking at it I tap it. Receiving a small shock, I let go of the jewel as it once again rest on my chest.

Should I just head up the stairs or maybe down? As I catch something from the side of my eye, turning I see a big door right in front of me, turning the knob, I step through the door, a forest stood in front.. SLAM! Jumping I turn fast to look back at the door that is now gone, reaching out to grab it. Nothing. The door is no longer there, nothing but a giant bolder. A slight chill is sent down my spine as I turn back around, seeing fog spilling through the forest.

"Hello? Is anyone there?" confused I tentatively moved forward.

A wooden post holding on to hold the arrows pointing three different directions. An arrow pointing to the north reading, "Campsite", and then pointing to the east labels "Forest". And lastly pointing to the south labeling "Mountains". Heading for the campsite there are cabins lined uniformly one after the other about five. Like those summer camps parents sign their children up for so their not at home bored all summer. Looked like it once was a lively camp, and if you were quiet enough you could almost hear the sounds of children running through. Down the path, passed the cabins, lead a giant iron gate. Shaking the thick iron bars, it doesn't budge, chained with a padlocked. There must be a key somewhere, then I can get back. Wherever that may be.

Reaching the first cabin, I walk through searching for something. The key. A clue as to show where I am. Anything. But nope, there is nothing but old pots and pans, old appliances. Two other rooms, completely empty. Heading for the door, the sound of flapping paper grabs my attention as I look back at the old table I grab the photograph before it blows away. There stood a man in front of the cabin, fishing rod in one hand and the other around a little boy who looked to be his son. Putting the picture down I head out and to the neighboring cabin.

Cabin number two. A long board leading up to the deck of the house, I put one foot on the board testing that it was sturdy. Rushing up the board I jumped on the deck and through the cabin doors. Same as the last, except this one had candles around the floor. Quickly looking through the place scanning for a key once again. Nothing.

Walking out I search the deck. Under flower pots, isn't that where keys tend to be hidden. If someone wanted the key to be found. My peripheral vision catches something, I turn seeing a shadowy figure looking this way staring right at me. Not being able to make up much but the structure of a man about six foot. He stood, legs spread a few feet apart, his arms out to his side a bit. He stood staring like he was going to come after me. He made no such movement, infact not a movement at all,as he just stood. I know that he was not there when I was in there. My instinct tells me to run and yet I wondered where the person came from. I knew I hadn't seen them. Rushing back to the cabin I looked. Standing right where the man was.

Nothing. No change. Everything the same as when I was here before. Screeching sounds coming from my neck, I look down as the jewel around me is now a fire red, glowing. Rushing out of the cabin as it calms to a yellow then back to a green glow. I walk back down looking at the other cabins. Forget the key. Forget the gate. There has to be another way out.

I started through the forest, so must want me to continue through the forest. So I followed the fog as it became thicker through the trees. Looking up they just went on forever, looked as if you could climb to the top and touch the sky. No sounds of life, nothing but the crunch of the leaves as I step and the the whistle of the wind. I am truly alone, except that figure of that man wherever he may be. Though not sure exactly what it is. A ghost? A demon? Was he the owner of the camp? Or maybe he drove them away from the camp? Or maybe has something to do with the photograph I saw. Or maybe I am just going crazy because none of this makes sense. On top of the fact I hate to be alone, not knowing what to do, where to go.

I think I am going in circles. Everything looks the same and there is no light, no opening to something beyond these trees. Maybe I should take the third path, that is,where are the paths? Gone, I am stuck in the woods. I take a seat on a knocked over tree trunk. Maybe if I just sit and think about this rationally there is a way out.

"Millie!" A deep voice shouts.

"What?! Who is this?" jumping up fast circling looking for someone.

"Don't give up face your fears."

"Show yourself!"

The voice disappears in a laugh, searching high and low for the mysterious voice. Taking off towards the forest once again, running as fast as I can to get to the end.The jewel screaming nonstop the dark red color once again. My heart beating as it's about to beat out of my chest, I continue to run. Every tree looking the same, going faster as they turn to a blur, I can't slow down. If I just keep running, I have to come to an end.

THUD! Slamming into a branch, as came out of nowhere. Falling to the ground.

"We're done. No more, she's done enough." A woman spats quickly.

Opening her eyes, Millie looks to left as a man stands in a white coat, then turning to her right seeing her mother rushing to hug her.

"You passed the fear simulation, Millie." the doctor says.

"Huh?" reaching to rub my head.

"The experiment you are apart of. You passed."

"That's it? How? I couldn't even find a way out."

"Because there was no way out."

There was no way out?! The old factory, all the different paths, they either led to a dead end or circled forever. No way out. To keep me trapped in my fear, testing me. Trying to make me go insane. The test failed. I did not.